What type of spider is this? (Atlanta, GA High-Res photos)

[10aCMike]

What type of spider is this? Since this encounter I've been on pins and needles!

Location: Atlanta, GA (Lithonia, GA or East Atlanta to be exact)
Home Location: Wooded Area with brush
Encountered: 5/3/12 at approximately 12:00pm EST
Encountered at: Finished Home Basement, came from under door/floor-board gap
Body Length: Approximately 3/4 to 1in, I would GUESS more along the 3/4in size.

Additional Notes: Didn't display aggressive behavior, but I didn't get too close (took photo from about 3 feet away zoomed at about 200mm). Spider stayed in this position for a couple minutes without moving, I assume in an attempt to escape detection. It didn't move while I snapped a few pictures, even on the last photo when I used a flash. A little after though it slowly retreated back under the door/floor board. Maybe I should have been more concerned with killing it(sorry guys, NO WAY I'm putting my hands close to a spider I know NOTHING about to try to catch it with a cup), but I really wanted to document it to find out what I'm dealing with.